When film came into existence late in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, it adopted the term epic for films that were lengthy, spectacular, live with action, and often filmed in exotic locales with large casts and staggering budgets. But the effort and extravagance needed to mount an epic film paid off handsomely at the box office, for the genre became a favorite with audiences almost immediately. It survived the tribulations of two World Wars and the Depression, and has retained its basic characteristics of size and glamor for more than a hundred years. Length was, and is, one of the traits of the epic, though monolithic three to four-hour spectacles like Gone with the Wind (1939) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962) have been replaced today by franchises, such as the Harry Potter films and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Though the form has evolved during its many decades of existence, its central elements have been retained, refined, and modernized to suit the tastes of every new generation. The Encyclopedia of Epic Films identifies, describes, and analyzes those films that meet the criteria of the epic sweeping drama, panoramic landscapes, lengthy adventure sequences, and, in many cases, casts of thousands. This volume looks at the wide variety of epics produced over the last century from the silent spectacles of D.W.

Griffith and biblical melodramas of Cecil B. DeMille to the historical dramas of David Lean and rollercoaster thrillers of Steven Spielberg. Each entry contains: .Major personnel behind the camera, including directors and screenwriters .Cast and character listings .Plot summary .Analysis .Academy Award wins and nominations .

DVD and Blu-Ray availability .Resources for further study This volume also includes appendixes of foreign epics, superhero spectaculars, and epics produced for television, along with a list of the most notable directors of the genre. Despite a lack of overall critical recognition and respect as a genre, the epic continues to be a favorite of audiences, and this book pays homage to a form of mass entertainment that continues to fill movie theaters. The Encyclopedia of Epic Films will be of interest to academics and scholars, as well as to any fan of films made on a grand scale.